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Speed
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation


8.0

based on 17 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 4 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

Speed 2: Cruise Control

MPAA RATING: R for violence and language

Starring Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels, Alan Ruck, Glenn Plummer, and Richard Lineback

Keanu Reeves stars as Jack Traven an LAPD SWAT team specialist who is sent to diffuse a bomb that a revenge-driven extortionist (Hopper) has planted on a bus. But until he does, Jack and passenger Sandra Bullock must keep the bus speeding through the streets of Los Angeles at more than 50 miles per hour -- or the bomb will explode. A high-octane chase of suspense, non-stop action and surprise twists, Speed is a joyride sure to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. (20th Century Fox)

GENRE(S):	Action \| Suspense/Thriller
WRITTEN BY:	Graham Yost
DIRECTED BY:	Jan de Bont
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: June 30, 2002 Video: November 15, 1994 Theatrical: June 10, 1994
RUNNING TIME:	116 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

Best Sound and Best Effects (Sound Effects Editing), 67th Annual Academy Awards

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

We've seen this done before, but seldom so well, or at such a high pitch of energy.

100

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

The film takes off from formula elements-it's yet another variation on "Die Hard"-but it manipulates those elements so skillfully, with such a canny mixture of delirium and restraint, that I walked out of the picture with the rare sensation that every gaudy thrill had been earned.

100

The New Yorker Anthony Lane

The result is clean, delirious, and, yes, speedy—the best big-vehicle-in-peril movie since Clouzot's "The Wages of Fear."

Time Richard Schickel

The movie has two virtues essential to good pop thrillers. First, it plugs uncomplicatedly into lurking anxieties -- in this case the ones we brush aside when we daily surrender ourselves to mass transit in a world where the loonies are everywhere. Second, it is executed with panache and utter conviction.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

De Bont and his team have turned in a visually sophisticated piece of mayhem that makes the implausible plausible and keeps the thrills coming. [10Jun1994 Pg. F1]

TV Guide Staff(not credited)

Acclaimed cinematographer Jan De Bont's directing debut is a mindless, implausible, and thoroughly gripping adventure movie.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

It's an ingenious premise that first-time director Jan De Bont has turned into a tremendously well-executed motion picture.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

If you're looking for action movie heaven, try Speed, a crackling blend of suspense and fun that gives you the rush of a runaway roller coaster.

The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

This film's dialogue isn't much more literate than a bus schedule, but its plotting is smart and breathless enough to make up for that.

Empire Philip Thomas

There are very few action movies that cut to the chase quite as quickly as Speed and then have the stamina to keep it up for nearly two hours.

Variety Todd McCarthy

First-time helmer Jan De Bont, the ace lenser of most of Paul Verhoeven's films as well as "Die Hard" and numerous other large-scale pix, handles the action with great nimbleness and dexterity; film can hardly be faulted for its visual presentation of very complex action.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

De Bont knows how to edit a pulse-pounding sequence, he knows how to keep the screen white-hot, and he sure knows how to blow things up real good. What he doesn't know is how to slow down - this premise is perfect for him.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

The deft arabesques of cinematographer Andrzej Bartkowiak juice up the suspense, and if you're not too put off by the sheer ridiculousness of the story you won't be bored.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

In a film like this, timing is everything, and everyone from the stunt coordinators to the crew-at-large seems to have gotten it right the first time.

USA Today Mike Clark

Crisp craftsmanship has fashioned a great day at the movies from the worst day of Ralph Kramden's life. [10 Jun 1994 Pg. 01.D]

Washington Post Hal Hinson

Undeniably, the picture now and again supplies that edge-of-the-seat sensation; yet, by action-adventure standards, Speed is leaden and strangely poky. It never seems to shift into overdrive and let fly.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

The plot becomes so overextended, as Reeves and Hopper wage their endless public transportation battle, even the hardest Die-Harders will consider leaping off way before the final stop.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

James H gave it an8:
Great film, love watching it. Just a well made movie.

[anonymous] gave it an8:
This movie gets down to business right away. After the first disarnament, it's a non-stop battle to keep the bus at speed, and the thrills never stop until Dennis Hopper finally bites the dust.

Tony R. gave it a10:
the best of the "speed" movies. Sandra Bullock was hot and so was Keanu Reeves' acting.

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Speed Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Speed
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation